Thank you, Alexey, of course! this is looking-glass world. Shade is always "Mr" and Kinbote is always "Dr." I had forgotten that reversal. Now if you can come up with an instance in which Shade is "Dr" (and he is entitled to be, isn't he?) and/or one in which Kinbote is "Mr" - then you'll have gotten me and I shall have to throw myself under a bus or something.

It didn't occur to me at the time, but having now watched innumerable episodes of "Doc Martin" - I now know that for British physicians, the higher calling of the surgeon is graced with the honorific "Mr" and the lowly G.P. is "Dr"  - but in the US, normally "Dr" is considered the superior form of address, at least in the academic context. I do not know what the situation was at the time RLS penned Dr J and Mr H, but I can try to find out. Shall keep you posted.

Carolyn


On Jun 5, 2012, at 7:34 AM, Alexey Sklyarenko wrote:

CK: in PF Shade is always 'Dr' and Kinbote is always 'Mr'
 
This is not quite true:
 
Kinbote: "Wives, Mr Shade, are forgetful." (Foreword)
 
Sybil Shade: "You are Dr Kinbote, aren't you?" (Ibid.)
 
Alexey Sklyarenko
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